New Delhi: India posted a mammoth total of 212/2 after Virat Kohli scored 122* off just 61 balls. India got a good start in a low stake game against Afghanistan after KL Rahul scored 62(41). More importantly, the drought ended and Kohli scored his 71st international hundred surpassing Ricky Ponting.
Fareed Ahmad tried to shake India up with two wickets in an over, but Kohli stood strong and wickets in hand allowed him to go for his shots. Both the pacers Fazalhaq and Fareed crossed the 50-mark in their four overs.
The fatigue was clear for Afghanistan as the team was playing two back-to-back games. Some dropped catches and quick wickets cost them the game. Bhuvneshar returned to his old job as just the powerplay bowler and swung the ball to get a five-wicket haul. He ended up with 4/5. Arshdeep, Ashwin and Hooda picked a wicket each, and Ibrahim Zadran fought the lone battle with a fifty.
Live Updates:
# India wins the game by 101 runs to have their second biggest win in the T20Is.
# Two back-to-back sixes in the final over, but Dinesh Karthik successfully defends the total.
# Ibrahim Zadran reaches his fifty with a six.
# Dinesh Karthik is bowling the last over!
# 120 needed of 6 now, take out your calculators.
# End of the 18th over and the score is 88/8. Afghanistan needs the almost impossible 125 off 12.
# Carrom ball strikes! Mujeeb bowled and goes for 18(13).
# Switch hit! Mujeeb is taking on Ashwin. This is a cracking four.
# Score: 79/7 after 17 overs. The game is about to end, or has it ended already?
# Four! Ibrahim Zadran hits a flat batted boundary over the mid-off. Zadran: 39*(45)
# Six! Mujeeb striking well, but it is just too late for Afghanistan as 140 runs are needed off 24 balls.
# Mujeeb welcomes Ashwin with a four. Battle of spinners.
# Deepak Chahar ends a decent over with 6 runs in it. Score: 63/7 after 15 overs.
# Deepak Hooda gets a wicket off his first delivery. Rashid Khan smashed it into the air and Axar Patel took an easy catch. Rashid: 15(19)
# Rashid Khan ends the 12th over with a boundary. Score: 54/6
# Four! Rashid sweeps to finish the over. Score: 44/6 after 11 overs.
# Four! Rashid hits a boundary against Axar Patel.
# Ten overs are gone for Afghanistan and the score stands at 34/6. Afghans are totally outplayed here.
# India using spin now. After Axar it is Ashwin who comes in to bowl.
# Eight overs are done and Afghanistan stands at 26/6.
# Four! Ibrahim Zadran hits the ball to the boundary as Arshdeep bowls on his pads.
# 5 wicket haul! Omarzai hands the ball to Dinesh Karthik in a soft dismissal as Bhuvi enjoys his 5th. Score: 21/6
# Bhuvi comes into bowl his fourth. He is back at new ball duties, no death overs for him this time.
# Some swing for Arshdeep too and Mohammad Nabi departs off an lbw for 7(7). Is Afghanistan tired? It is tough to play two back-to-back high-class games.
# Bhuvneshwar ends the 5th over with a big lbw appeal, but the umpire says not out and the ball tracker says the umpire’s call. The score stands at 19/4 and Bhuvi stands at 4/4 after his three overs.
# Score: 18/4 after 4 overs.
# Four! Mohammad Nabi drives to hit Chahar for a boundary.
# Bhuvi is unstoppable! Najibullah Zadran goes on a duck after being caught before the wicket. The ball came into the left-hander and seemed unplayable.
# Bhuvi strikes! Karim Janat departs after Kohli takes a catch. Third wicket for Bhuvi as he is loving the swing offered by the pitch. Karim Janat: 2(4)
# Zadran ends the over with a boundary. Score: 7/2 after 2 overs.
# India starts well after Bhuvi picks two in the first over.
# Bhuvneshvar Kumar strikes on the fourth ball to dismiss Zazai for a duck.
